A former boyfriend of the puppeteer, who provided the voice of Elmo on Sesame Street for nearly three decades before resigning last week after being targeted in two lawsuits alleging that he engaged in sexual activity with minors, objects to how he feels Clash is being portrayed in the wake of the scandal.

"Kevin is not a villain," Jason Murray, a 29-year-old teacher who dated Clash in 2004, exclusively tells E! News. "Yes, he had an affinity for younger men, but what successful [straight] man doesn’t have an affinity for younger women? It’s the same thing, gay or not.”

Two other men, Cecil Singleton and one going by John Doe, then sued Clash for damages, claiming in separate lawsuits that they engaged in sexual activity with the children's television star while they were underage.

Clash has denied engaging in any illegal activity and his attorney has said that both suits are without merit.

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